mal, that is interesting, have an elderly friend who is now 86. She had back surgery many years ago and needed more. The fobbed her off with one excuse after another for about 5 years and finally about 3 years ago told her she was too old. She too has a heart problem, but was left with the feeling that "oh well, you have lived with it this long you surely won't last much longer." I wonder. I am sure you could have been taken off the warfarin for the surgery period?

its been a while since I first wrote about this problem and in the meantime been trying to carry on until I had to be admitted to hospital in excruiating pain. The hospital prescribed morphine which gives instant relief while waiting for an operation to release the nerve. If you have had this operation please would love to hear of your experiences re recovery , success etc. mal Thanks

So sorry to hear that mal. I hope your surgery goes well and you're up and about painfree very soon. All the very best.

thanks Fern for your comments.. if you are on warfarin of course you are taken off that 5 days prior but was told by the surgeon that these days patients,lo help prevent clotting . its about a 40 min procedure but would still like to here the pros and cons

progress report - Hi everyone out that with this horrible problem.It certainly affects lifestyles etc... As for me am waiting to get the nod from the hospital for a preprep before an operation .The operation it seems is about removing a spur on the lower spine and fixing the spinal disc that is catching the sciatic nerve... I am wondering if anyone could help me with the prognosis..? and also been on morphine since my hospital discharge and not sure whether there is a long term problem with this

My husband had very bad sciatica about 4 years ago (he lifted smth heavy and turned his body at the same time).
After that he even could not seat in a car and was on ACC about 2 months. MRI showed a disc protrusion.

At first he had an appointment with osteopath and it reduced a pain.
We did not want to have any massage or manual therapy for him.
We are from Russia and have a special bath tonic (with vegetable turpentine in ingredients) which ease the symptoms and reduces pain very good.

We also offered this tonic to some of our kiwi friend with the same good results.
This tonic is also great for arthritis pain and stiffness, improves blood circulation in the whole body.

I too have had sciatica for the past year with no let up at all. I had 2 spinal fusions about 4-5 years ago and had sciatica then but it disappeared after surgery. I have been left with horrid back pain which I'm under the pain clinic for and they have told me no more surgery. Instead they are treating me with high doses of opiates which I hate. Now I'm waiting on a new Dr to replace the Professor I was under to get their advise. I am in such terrible pain and can't put a foot on the ground---getting dressed is such a problem and going to the toilet is as bad. The physio's have just tried very gentle manipulation but reluctant to try more with my history and my Dr has just upped my drugs even more. I am so sick of it all and would dearly love some advise re treating it.

Do you think that maybe the fusing could be the cause of the pain you are having, -L-R ? If you have not tried accupuncture, it may help. What about a spinal steroid injection. I have continual sciatica myself and can only walk for short distance before having to stop and stand still or sit for a minute or two. It is painful, no doubt about that.

So many people suffer from sciatica. I tried everything until it was found that the nerve was compressed in a narrow bone tunnel. I was given injections into the area. (My sister ahd the same treatment)That worked for about a year. However my cousin who is a wise lady in health matters, suggested I try Vitamin B12.
I am sure that it has been effective. Rarely now do I get severe pain and have to take a codeine tablet.

Post deleted at 16 Aug 2011 9:06pm by seafarer

I had very bad sciatica about two years ago and My doctor suggested acupuncture. This worked and I only needed two sessions.

First see a medical person to check the cause. The following only relates to sciatica due to inflammation and misaligned bits – not disc damage.

I had it for almost 2 years. (This was almost 20 years after the bad stretching I had engaged in while dancing – never force yourself to “touch your toes” for stretch or relaxation – it does NOT stretch your hamstrings – it DOES stretch your lower back ligaments leading to instability and if you are very unlucky damages your discs) It was so bad I had to take a lot of time off work and once when I timed myself it took 15 minutes to get out of bed. It was some years back and the understanding in NZ was pretty poor. In fact after one physio treatment the pain moved from behind my knee to my foot!

Luckily I had friends connected with a teaching hospital in Brisbane. There they identified the problem – nothing holding my lower back in position other than muscle which as it weakened (and I put on weight) allowed too much slop (almost 2cm sideways!). First they had to stop the muscle spasm which had led to serious atrophy of the existing muscle – basically anti-inflams, painkillers and not doing anything to aggravate it – like sitting in a regular chair or driving. (You can get a lot out of 2 paracetamol every 4 hours – but you need to keep it up even when it is okay until you’ve had a pain free week)

Next massage and manipulation to make sure every thing lined up again (not an osteopath – you need to get the muscles holding you in place not just force the bones back). Some of this was done in a warm pool which was very nice.

Then I had to start working. I had a stretch regime to keep everything in place; I had strengthening exercises; and most important I was taught to activate my transversalis abdominis and multifidus spinae using ultra-sound feedback. The last is pretty hard to do on your own but one on one sessions good Pilates instructor will give you much the same. It is very important that the deep postural muscles are strengthened. Too many people work on their abs and do situps etc which work (at best) on the outer abs which are less useful (and at worse use the hip flexors)

Hope that might be useful to someone.